Firewalker

After the emotional last few episodes, it's nice to have one that kind of lets you *exhale*.



Scully has returned to work, maybe too quickly one would argue. Mulder certainly thinks so, and when their first case back on the job together (first since Erlenmeyer Flask) would take them out in the field, Mulder suggests Scully stay in DC. He makes no effort to hide his concern, nor should he, when he tells Scully she should sit this one out.



S: Mulder, I appreciate your concern - but I'm ready. I want to work.
M: Well, maybe you should take some time off.
S: I've already lost too much time.



Well, she's not exactly wrong. You can see she is a little rattled by her experience, even though they never talk about it with each other. It has certainly affected her, and that's probably why Mulder is not trying to push this sensitive subject. A lot of people object to this episode's lack of references or discussion about Scully's abduction, but I think it's actually... considerate.

What begins now is a case following the very successful 'Ice' model; M & S investigate a remote team of researchers in a high-tension, life threatening situation in which 'any of us could be infected'.



Admittedly, the parallels to Ice are strong- they even use exactly the same music in some scenes. But Ice was popular, so why not try and repeat it? I actually find the newly discovered organism in this one intriguing; a silica-based extremophile fungus. Sure. Honestly? Anything can happen in nature. Nature is weird.



The research team is all spooked (and contaminated) and kind of psycho. Which means some enjoyable talking-in-private-in-hushed-tones scenes.



But also some disagreeing with each other as usual. Mulder is fixated not only on the new life form, but also on the man who discovered it; Trepkos. I think Mulder sees a bit of a kindred spirit in him. Even one of the lines seems to run parallel, maybe or maybe not intentionally tying these two characters together:

Trepkos: (feeling guilty over his love interest's death) I told her it would change her life.

M: (In Darkness Falls, feeling guilty over Scully's dire condition) I told her it would be a nice trip to the forest.

Another totally irrelevant thing I would like to comment on; Mulder listening to the tape recording of Trepkos really reminds me of Evil Dead 2. In a major way.



Scully falls easily back into her role as skeptic, even about things that they apparently seem to have some evidence of. I have a feeling her denial of everything stems from a denial of her abduction experience (not that I can prove it with, you know, evidence :P).

M: Silicon dioxide, the waste product of a silicon-based organism.
LUDWIG: Wait a second, there's no such thing as a silicon-based organism.
S: Maybe now there is, but we won't have conclusive proof until we determine its molecular structure.



Even here, she gives a yes-and-no response; yes it's possible, yes that's what it appears to be, yes I should just say yes, but no, I need more/real proof.

M: Come on, Scully, how else do you explain the sand in his lungs - the best trace evidence we could ask for.

Mulder, even though generally sympathetic and even tender post-abduction, is still understandably frustrated with Scully's unwillingness to play ball. Still, he is willing to demonstrate over and over in this episode how concerned he is about keeping Scully safe.

S: Will you at least let me go with you?
M: (quickly, shaking his head) No.
S: Look, I know what you're thinking but you have to get past that. We both do. I'm back, and I'm not going anywhere.



He moves closer to her to touch her shoulder and gives her an excuse to stay behind; to finish her autopsy and find out more about the fungus.



M: I'm counting on you to keep us all from ending up on that slab



Formidable powers of persuasion. Eventually Mulder finds Trepkos, with Ludwig's help. Trepkos murders the other man with a flare gun, then pulls it on Mulder when he tries to leave. Trepkos tells Mulder all about the fungus, how it has infected everyone in his research team, and how he's been destroying the evidence (research, colleagues, etc) to keep it contained.

M: I have a colleague -(he corrects himself, or is emphasizing the importance of getting back to the research station) a friend - who's with O'Neil right now. Let me go to her.
TREPKOS: She may already be infected.
(Mulder starts to leave but Trepkos aims the gun at Mulder)
TREPKOS: I can't let you leave.
M: Then you're going to have to shoot me. Because I'm walking out of here.



Mulder may know that this man is bluffing, but his willingness to be shot in the name of retrieving Scully from a suddenly dangerous situation can't be overlooked.



Meanwhile, the situation gets even more dangerous when O'Neil handcuffs herself to Scully (motive unknown), while the fungus prepares to burst out of her throat. Scully tries frantically to hack the handcuffs off with the back of a hammer, then hauls O'Neil into another room, closing the door on her.



O'Neil is ticking like a time bomb, and Scully better hope that door protects her from the spores when they pop.



God, that fungus is maybe the grossest thing the writers ever came up with, the way it explodes out of a person's neck like that! Scully's look says it best.



O'Neil begins pounding against the plexiglass, trying to escape. You can't help but feel sorry for her, but at this point, there isn't much anyone can do for her except stay away. It goes without saying Scully feels horrible. When O'Neil finally pops, Scully's tension and fear can finally abate, and she leans panting against the door, which is how Mulder finds her (sexy?).



Before this point, Mulder doesn't know that Scully is in immediately life-threatening situation, he only knows that there is a vague possibility of danger. But he still ran as fast as he could back to the research station. (I am picturing a scenario like Eve when Mulder rushes up to Scully to push her drink out of her hand). As it happens, Mulder gets there right after the fact.



He gently touches her cheek and her neck, checking on her. Mulder is concerned, but Scully is just relieved. He reaches over her and uncuffs her.



She needs to confirm for him a few times that she's fine. Even when he helps her up, without saying any words he asks if she is ok; he just gives her that look. She answers 'yeah'.

This may be the first really good demonstration of the nonverbal communication that they absolutely perfect over the course of the show.

Trepkos appears just as Scully asks if Mulder found him. He kneels and puts his hands to the glass, staring at O'Neil, knowing he is responsible for her death.



He gives up.

He is not rescued. Instead, he carries O'Neil's body with him back down into the volcano. It's utterly tragic, but also very touching. How terribly romantic this episode has been.